[2024-09-08] Cold weather doesn't cool Walk of Hope
Of the four years I've participated in Ovarian Cancer Canada's Walk of Hope, this one was by far the coldest. But the single-digit temperature in Ottawa this morning didn't cool enthusiasm for the walk or the cause.
Early this morning, Mel and I headed over to Andrew Haydon Park in Ottawa—our Ovarian Cancer Canada t-shirts hidden beneath layers of downy jackets. Other participants were more creative, wearing their teal t-shirts on top of their sweaters and coats. The volunteers who greeted us looked chilly but happy to be lending their support to Ovarian Cancer Canada on this most important day.
It was a pleasure to meet, in person, fellow ovarian cancer survivor Diana Ash and her mom. Diana (holding the ribbon-cutting scissors in the top right photo below) interviewed me in May 2022. Today, she shared her story of advocating for herself, which led to a diagnosis of ovarian cancer that might have been overlooked.
It was lovely to once again see Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden, a senior research scientist with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the Corinne Boyer Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research at the University of Ottawa. Barb (on the left in the top left photo below) was joined by fellow Ottawa Hospital ovarian cancer scientist Dr. David Cook and their team members. David (holding his daughter in the top left photo and the ribbon-cutting scissors in the top right photo) took to the stage (bottom right photo) and shared what gives him hope when he thinks of the ovarian cancer research that he and Barb are leading in Ottawa and that is happening across the country and around the world. Of all the things Ovarian Cancer Canada does (from supporting people affected by ovarian cancer to advocating for more and better services for patients, to enabling research to move faster and further), the area that excites me most is research. Science is what we need to change the trajectory of this disease.
It was a treat to connect with my friend Hugues Lhérisson, who biked over to the park to wish me well on the walk. He has been a consistent supporter over the past four years and a wise and frequent contributor to Jenesis.
And, of course, it was delightful to share this moment with my daughter.
The Walk of Hope celebrates ovarian cancer survivors and thrivers, but it also honours the people who died of the disease. After Mel and I spoke to Margie's Gang, who were walking in memory of a former colleague who had passed away from ovarian cancer in 2015, I remembered the women I was walking for: Louise, Diane, Sue and Diana. They are not forgotten.
Donations made today to the Walk of Hope (such as through my fundraising page) will be matched by Karen Greve Young, a Walk of Hope participant and Chair of Ovarian Cancer Canada's Board of Directors. Karen is committing $20,000 in memory of her mother, to ensure that Ovarian Cancer Canada can continue to fund ovarian cancer research.
